This year's August Men's Firesale was based in Italy and run by Tim Kelly.
Christopher Peña, the Director of our Men's Player Agency, was also in
attendance in Bologna for the first four days, and as usual, we had various
European coaches on board to coach and look at players throughout the trip.
The market was at an all time low this year, which was frustrating for all
involved, but I want to thank all of those coaches and friends present for
all their hard work in trying to get these guys jobs. And I want to thank
the guys for hanging in there and working so hard to fight for the few spots
that were available this year.
We cut the end of the trip a bit short, but our schedule ended up looking
like this:
August 10-14: Training in Bologna, Italy
August 12: 9 boys went to Latina to play vs. Italian YNT
August 13: 7 boys went to Maribor, Slovenia to play vs. Cameroon NT
August 15: Full Day Free: Sightseeing in Venice, Train to Pordenone, Italy
August 16-19: Training and Matches in Pordenone, Italy
August 17: 8 boys went to Maribor to play Murska Sobota & Camerooon NT
August 18: Training was canceled
While we didn't play many actual matches on the tour compared to years
passed, there was plenty of training, and more than ample time for the boys
to show their stuff to the coaches in attendance; and the BIP staff there
filling orders from teams unable to make the trip. Several of the athletes
that went home without a team would have been placed any other year of the
tour's history without issue, but the market just wasn't there this year.
Salaries are also at an all time low for many of those that did get jobs.
As of 9/24/11, here is the list (chronological) of "action" from the tour.
Congratulations and best of luck to all of those that are currently with
teams for the 2011-2012 Season:
1. Shane BYRNE; Castelo de Maia, Portugal
Cullen IRONS; VC Bottrop, Germany, 1st Bundesliga (tried out)
Russelheim, Germany, 2nd Bundesliga (tried out)
turned down offer in Marienlyst Odense, Denmark
Wyatt THOMPSON; turned down an offer in Klagenfurt, Austria
Ryan ARTHUR; turned down an offer in Klagenfurt, Austria
2. Brennon DYER; signed in Klagenfurt, Austria
Mike WARREN; Klagenfurt, Austria (tried out)
3. Jeff ZORNIG; signed in Klagenfurt, Austria
Orlando CATALAN trained with Berlin, Germany (headed home)
4. Bryce HICKERSON; tried out in Duren, Germany 1st Bundesliga
Signed with Wuppertal, Germany
Jeff SCHMITZ; turned down an offer to play in Tromso, Norway
5. Scott SLAUGHTER; turned down an offer to play in Tromso, Norway
Signed with TSV Glesen, Germany 2nd Bundesliga
6. Chris SCHARDT; VK Orkellunga, Sweden
Ryan BREKKE; Marienlyst Odense, Denmark (tried out)
7. Jake WIENS; Lycurgus Gronigen, Holland
8. Will SIWY; Filanto Volley Casarano, Italy Serie C
9. Hans SCHROEDER; Filanto Volley Casarano, Italy Serie C
10 Ernie VIDINHA; Filanto Volley Casarano, Italy Serie C
11 Mike SAURO; TSV Glesen, Germany 2nd Bundesliga (tried out)
Signed with Oslo, Norway
12 Austin EINHORN; Klagenfurt (tried out)
Signed with TSV Husum, Germany D3
13 Kyle FRIEND; TSV Glesen, Germany 2nd Bundesliga
14 Corey COLE; Oslo, Norway (Player/Coach)
15 Mark BURIK; Split, Croatia
Tommy HOKE & Tom O'CONNELL declined offers in Klagenfurt to head home for
personal reasons
Ryan ARTHUR has sort of a pre-offer to play in Belluno (Serie C Italy) and
we're working on paperwork still
We look forward to returning to Bologna again in August of 2012, and thank
everyone from Zinella that took such great care of us! Let's all hope the
market gets a little better in the meantime... |
